MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was not just “sexy,” “anak” and “kuya” in the pork barrel scam but also “Cong. Biazon” to its operators, a whistle-blower told the Sandiganbayan yesterday.
Witness Benhur Luy said they used several code names for Estrada in connection with the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
Luy testified at the bail hearing of Estrada, who is detained on plunder and graft charges.
“We used the code names so that he would not be identified,” Luy told the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division.
Justice Undersecretary Jose Justiniano, a member of the prosecution, said the code name was in reference to former Muntinlupa congressman Ruffy Biazon, who is also facing malversation charges before the Office of the Ombudsman over the pork barrel scam.
Justiniano explained that Napoles used the alias Cong. Biazon for Estrada because the two are sons of former senators.
Biazon is the son of former senator and now Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon. Estrada is the son of former senator Loi Ejercito.
“I asked Luy about the ‘Cong. Biazon’ alias and he said that was the instruction of Mrs. Napoles. She likened the relationship of the Biazons to that of the Estradas simply because of their being politicians,” Justiniano said.
“I can’t tell if this is logical or reason enough for coming up with such codename,” he added.
Estrada, for his part, said he was surprised that he was referred to as Cong. Biazon.
“It’s absurd and preposterous that the name of Cong. Biazon was attributed to me. It proves that there are lots of inconsistencies in the testimony of the star witness,” the senator said.
“I am also not familiar with the code name anak. That is very ridiculous. Luy is a liar. From the very start, he was lying. He was the one who prepared his own ledger. That can be easily tampered with,” he added.
SC urged to rule on DAP petitions
Meanwhile, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) yesterday urged the Supreme Court (SC) to rule on petitions questioning the constitutionality of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
The group made the call as the SC is set to hold its regular session today.
It expressed hope that the high court will finally rule on the DAP before President Aquino signs the General Appropriations Act for 2015.
The SC struck down key portions of the DAP on July 1.
The government, through the Office of the Solicitor General, had filed an appeal to reverse the SC decision.
The high court had deferred ruling on the government’s appeal as it opted to first seek comment from anti-DAP groups before resolving the appeal.